J&K is the country's safest tourist destination, as per state govt officials

Jammu and Kashmir has been declared as the country’s safest tourist spot for domestic travellers, and the tensions witnessed on borders have little to no effect on this, according to the state government officials.

The state has seen no crime against tourists in 2015 and 2016 as per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) annual data.

The government official further said that the terror attack has had no impact on the number of travellers coming in the country. He further said that the sole incident remains the attack which took place on pilgrims on the way to Amarnath Temple last year.

The director of Kashmir’s tourism department, Mahmood Ahmad Shah, mentioned that the number of foreign tourists dropped by one lakh in 2017, but the domestic tourists coming in the state have crossed one crore. Gujarat residents comprised 30 percent of the domestic tourists in J&K last year, followed by West Bengal at 25 percent domestic tourists.

According to The Indian Express, Shah said,

Had it been unsafe, we would not have had so many foreign and domestic tourists visiting Kashmir.

As per The Kashmir Monitor, Shah said,

Kashmir was the only place where even robbed belongings were at times returned to the tourists. Kashmiri people have always showed bravery in saving the tourists. They have always welcomed the foreign as well as national tourists with open hearts.

A tourism police force has been dedicated by the state to assist visitors, especially for areas like Gulmarg and Sonemarg.

According to the India News, Shah said,

Kashmir is not just for holidaying in summer time, it is a round-the-year destination offering snowfall in the winter, blossoms in the spring, endless alpine meadows in the summer and the glory of crimson chinar trees in the autumn.

Do you have an interesting story to share? Please write to us at [email protected]. To stay updated with more positive news, please connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.